Candy Crowley Prepares 'State of the Union'

When President Obama delivered his first State of the Union address last week, political pundits around the country pounced, delivering their usual split second blend of commentary and criticism. But now those roles are about to be reversed.

That's because, according to The Hollywood Reporter, CNN senior political correspondent Candy Crowley will take over their weekly 'State of the Union' round table beginning Sunday, ending weeks of speculation and shake-ups following the departure of controversial talking head Lou Dobbs from the network last November.When President Obama delivered his first State of the Union address last week, political pundits around the country pounced, delivering their usual split second blend of commentary and criticism. But now those roles are about to be reversed.

That's because, according to the Hollywood Reporter, CNN senior political correspondent Candy Crowley will take over their weekly 'State of the Union' round table beginning Sunday, ending weeks of speculation and shake-ups following the departure of controversial talking head Lou Dobbs from the network last November.

The sudden departure of Dobbs, who resigned under pressure following another media firestorm over his outspoken views on immigration, created a domino effect at the network as 'State of the Union' host John King moved up to fill the coveted 7PM slot previously occupied by 'Lou Dobbs Tonight.'

Now all eyes, including presumably those of President Obama, will be turning to Candy Crowley as she takes the reins of a revamped 'State of the Union,' which will be trimmed from four hours down to one. But CNN president John Klein expect the transition to be a smooth one.

"Candy's rare combination of shrewd insight and healthy irreverence for the games politicians play has made her one of the most honored political journalists and a cult figure among CNN viewers," he told the Hollywood Reporter.

Whether or not ratings will back up those claims, however, remains to be seen. After all, when it comes to the State of the Union, it's hard to please everybody. Just ask President Obama.